the patient I’m visiting – Valerie
sits in a room the size of a gallery
stiff as a bored security guard
or a life-like exhibit called ‘life is hard’

I say : your house is pretty colossal!
yes, she says, it used to be a brothel
which explains all the architectural quirks
the rooms where all the girls used to work

just then her staffie, Rick, runs in
dragging a teddy bear after him
the teddy is easily twice his size
matted, with a desperate look in its eyes

Rick drops the teddy and straightaway jumps it
arches his back and starts to hump it
Rick! snaps Valerie – then to me:
something in the air, unfortunately